News Flashtag:www.easternct.edu,2009-02-24:/mt-static/news//492014-05-27T12:37:13ZMovable Type 4.34-enCelebrating 125 Years of Service to the Community tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68702014-05-20T18:51:16Z2014-05-27T12:37:13ZEastern wrapped up its spring semester series of 125th Anniversary celebrations with Community Engagement Day on May 2. The day began with a luncheon and panel discussion featuring four alumni in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Conference Room. Anabelitza...Office of University RelationsEastern wrapped up its spring semester series of 125th Anniversary celebrations with Community Engagement Day on May 2. The day began with a luncheon and panel discussion featuring four alumni in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Conference Room. Anabelitza Lozada '11, Levar Mitchell '12, Matt Blocker-Glynn '03 and Victoria Nimirowski '87 discussed how they turned their community engagement experiences at Eastern into successful careers. The event was sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement, the Center for Internships and Career Development, and the Office of Alumni Affairs.

Lozada graduated with a bachelor's degree in Social Work. The following year, she completed her master's degree at the University of Connecticut's School of Social Work. She currently is the social worker for the Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens program at Windham High School. Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Science in Sport and Leisure Management with a minor in Sociology. He currently works as a sports, fitness and recreation director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford, and is the youngest sports director in Connecticut. Mitchell is pursuing his master's degree in Social Work at the University of Connecticut.

Blocker-Glynn graduated with a B.A. in History. He received his M.Ed. in Human Relations Counseling from Plymouth State University, and then came back to Connecticut to direct the University of Hartford's Center for Community Service six years ago. Nimirowski has been the executive director of the Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (WAIM) since 2005.

In the afternoon, the CCE sponsored the annual Service Expo, during which time student volunteers displayed posters and other visual manifestations of the various service projects that have taken place during the 2013-14 academic year. The annual Distinguished Service Awards ceremony took place in the Student Center Theatre following the Service Expo.

Kimberly DePaolis, a junior double-majoring in early childhood education and psychology, won the Student Community Engagement Award for her leadership, fundraising and volunteer work locally and abroad--in such countries as Jamaica and Ecuador--earned her this award.

Professor of Anthropology Ricardo Perez earned the Faculty Community Engagement Award for working with Eastern students in service projects with Willimantic schools in the Puentes al Futuro (Bridges to the Future) program. The Community Partner Engagement Award was given to '09 alumnus Christopher Brechlin, who worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer with ACCESS Agency and is now the CEO of Blueprint for a Dream, a "social enterprise" that focuses on northeast Connecticut. Professor of Sociology Cara Bergstrom-Lynch won the Service Learning Award for her fundraising efforts and community organizing. Since 2007, more than 550 students in her senior seminar have organized more than 120 community projects. The Community Event Award was given to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). From January to April of this year, the 10 students involved in the program put forth more than 456 hours of tax assistance, filing approximately 9,500 returns for low-to-moderate income individuals and families.

In the evening, "La Familia de Mucho Colores," a community cultural celebration in the Betty R. Tipton Room, concluded Community Engagement Day. Arnaldo Rivera and his band Vente-Tú played Latin Jazz and Salsa; children from the Puentes al Futuro ("Bridges to the Future") program danced to Mexican polkas, a Puerto Rican bomba and other Latin American music. Dancers fom the El Sagrado Corazón Catholic Church also joined in the festivities.

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2014 Inclusive Excellence Student Recognized for Academic Excellencetag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68692014-05-20T18:49:46Z2014-07-10T16:27:12ZOne hundred forty-three students were recognized at the Second Annual Inclusive Excellence Student Awards Ceremony held on May 2 in the Betty R. Tipton Room. The event, sponsored by the Advising Center, celebrated the academic achievements of Eastern's "ALANA" students--African-American,...Office of University Relations
One hundred forty-three students were recognized at the Second Annual Inclusive Excellence Student Awards Ceremony held on May 2 in the Betty R. Tipton Room. The event, sponsored by the Advising Center, celebrated the academic achievements of Eastern's "ALANA" students--African-American, Latino, Asian and Native American students.

"Across the country, minority students are underrepresented on college campuses and graduate at lower rates," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "Here at Eastern, we are committed to reversing that trend by fostering a community of inclusion, diversity awareness and academic excellence."

Carmen Cid, a Latina from Cuba with nearly 30 years' experience as a college professor and administrator, and a distinguished scientist in the field of ecology, delivered the keynote address. "You have diverse backgrounds and broad educations; you can do more than one thing," said Cid, currently the interim president of Quinebaug Valley Community College and long-time dean of Eastern's School of Arts and Sciences.

"Finding your inner voice takes time and practice." She also spoke of the benefits of diversity: "In ecology, the more diverse an ecosystem, the healthier it is. This is true for a college campus, too, and for society."

Jonathan Correa, a sophomore biology major from Trumbull; Njeri Dodson, a freshman biology major from Bridgeport; Destiny Hartmann, a freshman accounting major from Stonington; Tyler Hernandez, a sophomore education major from Waterbury; Kayla Enwerem, a freshman from Waterbury; and Briana Tucker, a freshman social work major from Glastonbury, were named recipients of the Diversity Scholars Award.

Inclusive Excellence Awards were presented to James Chadic, a senior mathematics major from Norwich; Vanessa Cioe, a senior sports and leisure management major from Fall River, MA; Shaleah Richards, a senior psychology major from Hartford; and Gregory Riley, a junior biology major from West Haven.

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Eastern Remembers Two Studentstag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68682014-05-20T18:45:50Z2014-05-27T12:32:44ZOffice of University RelationsJerrod Greider Memorial Service

More than 200 students, faculty and staff gathered at the Foster Clock Tower on May 5 to honor Jerrod Greider '14, a senior history/secondary education major who passed away on April 29. Jerrod had his sights set on teaching history in the secondary grades, following in the footsteps of his mother Kathleen, who is the Superintendent of Schools in Farmington.

Father Larry LaPointe opened the service, noting that the clock tower ws the center of campus and the place the University community gathers to lift up the memory of community members who have fallen. "We are very saddened today by the loss of such a young life, one with such promise," he said.

President Elsa Núñez noted Jerrod's passion for teaching and the kindness and support he provided the children who he taught. Supervising teachers in his other clinical experiences described Jerrod as "sensitive" and "kind," an "intelligent future teaching professional" having "the qualities sought in a caring, compassionate teacher."

Marc Provera, one of Jerrod's 13-year-old students at Illing Middle School in Manchester, wrote the following about his student teacher: "Mr. Greider loved everyone he met. Every person that knew him loved him as well. . . I will never forget the first day he came to our school. You could tell that he was happy to be there. He touched the hearts of many students, friends, teachers, and family."

History Club Vice President Joe Garzone also spoke at the service: "I will never forget when I first met Jerrod at a History Club meeting my freshman year. His character, intelligence, and wit commanded respect from all our members. His personality made him someone everyone could get along with and he enjoyed their presence as well."

Music for event was provided by guitarist Morgan Brown; members of the Chamber Singers, accompanied by Eric Ouellette on keyboards; and vocalists Emily Riggs and Melinda DeDominicis.

The Le Le Project: A Tribute to Alyssiah Wiley

More than 60 students, faculty and staff gathered in the Student Center on May 2 to participate in "The Le Le Project: The Life and Legacy of Alyssiah Marie Wiley," a celebration the life of Wiley, who passed away a year ago, a victim of domestic violence. Wiley was a Psychology major with a minor in Biology and was a member of Eastern's FEMALES organization. Father Larry LaPointe opened the service, remarking on the silence that fell over the room as one of respect. Wiley's life of was caught in a "different type of silence," he said, "a silence that is dangerous and one that should compel the campus community to do its part in ending the silence."

Starsheemar Byrum, coordinator of Eastern's Women's Center and Sexual Assault Response team, remembered Wiley for her beauty and determination to succeed. Student Deidre Montague sang a tribute to Wiley. Shereen Moore, president of FEMALES, who spearheaded The Le Le Project, discussed some of Wiley's joys, and Eastern's Fusion Dance Team delivered an energetic tribute in Wiley's memory.

Onya Harris, one of Wiley's mentors, delivered the keynote address, encouraging the audience to understand that while one may experience hardships and difficulties, one must embody the strength and courage to call on friends, family and support groups to help them land on their feet."

FEMALES, MALES, NOW, PRIDE Alliance, West Indian Society, Peace and Human Rights, the Intercultural Center and the Women's Center all participated in the The Le Le Project memorial service. Wiley's mother and family attended the event and expressed their gratitude for the tribute.

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Eastern Presents Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Awardstag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68672014-05-20T18:39:02Z2014-05-20T18:40:29ZEastern presented its Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Awards on April 26 to Todd Aviles, a senior majoring in Sociology; Robinson Camacho, a family liaison working for Windham Public Schools; and Kimberly Armstrong Silcox, director of Eastern's Center for Community Engagement....Office of University RelationsEastern presented its Cesar Chavez Distinguished Service Awards on April 26 to Todd Aviles, a senior majoring in Sociology; Robinson Camacho, a family liaison working for Windham Public Schools; and Kimberly Armstrong Silcox, director of Eastern's Center for Community Engagement. The program recognizes members of the campus and local community whose actions demonstrate distinguished service in promoting educational opportunities and/or advancement for members of Latino groups and acts that represent a commitment to positive Latino youth development.

Aviles has been fully engaged at Eastern since he arrived on campus. He served as the president for the MALES organization for the past two years. A native of Hartford and a strong advocate who believes heavily in giving back to his community, Aviles currently works for the Center for Internships and Career Development as a peer counselor. He also worked in the Center for Community Engagement and the Office of Student Orientation. In his spare time, Aviles likes to read and write poetry.

In addition to serving as a family liaison for Windham Public School, Camacho is also coordinator for the high school Puentes al Futuro/Bridges to the Future after-school program. The program meets twice a week at Windham High School and Eastern.

'I am Latino' is a series of classes that Camacho developed, which focuses on motivating, encouraging and opening the eyes of the youth through visual media and interactive lectures. The class is direct and to the point, and its purpose is to make young people think about where they are and where they are going. Young people hear about successful Latinos in history and today, as Camacho goes over statistics on Latino dropout rates, low college attendance rates and the importance of education, by telling his story about dropping out of college and then realizing he needed to finish his college education.

Silcox is director of Eastern's Center for Community Engagement, which opened in 2009. She serves on many nonprofit boards and committees and has received numerous awards for service to the community. She is an advocate for students, faculty and communities, working to build and facilitate meaningful partnerships in the Windham community.

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Eastern Presents "The Laramie Project"tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68662014-05-20T18:35:20Z2014-05-27T12:39:26ZEastern's Theatre Program and Drama Society presented "The Laramie Project," written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, in the Harry Hope Theatre from April 24-27. The play was directed by senior theatre major Kelsey Guggenheim. The...Office of University RelationsEastern's Theatre Program and Drama Society presented "The Laramie Project," written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, in the Harry Hope Theatre from April 24-27. The play was directed by senior theatre major Kelsey Guggenheim.

The Laramie Project follows the true story of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence in the middle of a prairie outside Laramie, WY, in 1998, and left to die just because he was gay.

Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year-and-a-half in the aftermath of the murder and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, and others were citizens of Laramie. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences.

Guggenheim was given the opportunity to direct this full-length stage production through Pathways to Leadership. The program for students interested in directing includes a series of directing classes, stage management and assistant directing duties, and opportunities to direct staged readings, children's theatre and one-act plays. Students with special skills have the opportunity to direct a full-length, fully-staged production as part of the Harry Hope Theatre season of shows.

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Eastern Sponsors Statewide Campus Sustainability Conferencetag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68652014-05-20T18:31:57Z2014-05-23T23:02:32ZMore than 130 students, staff, faculty and administrators from colleges and universities throughout Connecticut shared best practices on how to make Connecticut campuses more sustainable at a statewide campus sustainability conference held at Middlesex Community College on April 25. The...Office of University RelationsMore than 130 students, staff, faculty and administrators from colleges and universities throughout Connecticut shared best practices on how to make Connecticut campuses more sustainable at a statewide campus sustainability conference held at Middlesex Community College on April 25.

The conference was organized by Eastern's Institute for Sustainable Energy and featured more than 20 presentations from campus representatives sharing the details of their sustainability initiatives, successes and challenges. Presenters and participants came from a broad range of public and private universities, colleges and community colleges. The conference and many of the energy initiatives on Connecticut's campuses are supported by EnergizeCT and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund.

"The idea for this conference arose from the desire to hold an event where students, faculty, staff and administrators from public and private colleges and universities across the state could come together to discuss campus sustainability from a variety of different perspectives," said Laura Worthington, conference organizer and energy technical specialist for the Institute for Sustainable Energy. "This type of collaboration is vital to the sharing of best practices and trading of ideas that will continue to move us forward and keep Connecticut on the map as one of the greenest states in the nation."

Eastern and Yale University announced that they will co-chair a new "Connecticut Alliance for Campus Sustainability" that will serve as an ongoing statewide network to facilitate greater coordination and cooperation on sustainability among public and private institutions of higher education. The primary purpose of this collaboration is to share information as peers, foster partnerships and develop system-wide strategies to address climate change and adaptation, local and regional resiliency, stormwater and water management, land use and other sustainability-related issues.

Eastern President Elsa Núñez said, "We are thrilled to partner with Yale University in leading the Connecticut Alliance for Campus Sustainability. Together we look forward to engaging our public and private peer institutions to model environmental stewardship in our buildings, classrooms and communities."

The new alliance will tap into the many resources available to help campuses engage in actions that will reduce their environmental footprint, increase resiliency and save costs. These include EnergizeCT programs administered by Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating; programs of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; and national programs such as the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment and the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

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English Department Host Annual "English Night"tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68642014-05-20T18:30:04Z2014-05-20T18:33:43ZEastern's English Department hosted its spring 2014 English Night in the Betty R. Tipton Room on April 28. The event began with a warm welcome from Lisa Fraustino, chair of the English Department. The English major awards ceremony followed. Brooke...Office of University RelationsEastern's English Department hosted its spring 2014 English Night in the Betty R. Tipton Room on April 28. The event began with a warm welcome from Lisa Fraustino, chair of the English Department.

The English major awards ceremony followed. Brooke Baldwin and Akaya McElveen were the recipients of Service to the Department Awards, which are awarded to students who have helped with departmental projects, coordinated events or organized student clubs that have connections to literature or writing. The Award for Lifetime Learning was awarded to Meaghan Eales. This award is usually granted to a returning student who has shown a steady love of literature, writing and the pursuit of knowledge. Eales was also awarded the Commitment to Teaching award for her dedication to teaching.

Angelia Dilella was awarded the Contributions to the Cultural Life of the Campus Award, which is awarded to students who have been actively involved as a writer or editor in literary publications. Dilella also was awarded the Award for Academic Excellence for her demonstration of superior ability and dedication to reading literature and interpreting it well in class discussions and in written work.

First-year writing awards were presented to Danielle Campitelli and Emilio Estrella. The first-year writing awards are given to students in College Writing and College Writing Plus whose writing is innovative, creative, well researched or uniquely articulated. Campitelli's research paper, "Faking it Until I Make It," written for Professor Mika Taylor's first-year writing class, exemplified those qualities. Estrella's innovative and creative writing paper was titled "Music and Society: Cause and Effect."

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Eastern Students Win Statewide Storytelling Contesttag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68632014-05-20T18:28:03Z2014-05-20T18:29:58ZTwo Eastern students walked off with the two top prizes in the Fourth Annual 2014 Connecticut Campus Slammer Finals, a statewide storytelling contest that took place at Connecticut College on April 26. Jonah Craggett, a junior from New Haven majoring...Office of University RelationsTwo Eastern students walked off with the two top prizes in the Fourth Annual 2014 Connecticut Campus Slammer Finals, a statewide storytelling contest that took place at Connecticut College on April 26. Jonah Craggett, a junior from New Haven majoring in English with a minor in Anthropology, won top honors. Daniel Solomon, a junior from Woodstock majoring in History with a minor in Asian Studies, was the runner-up.

The 2014 Connecticut Campus Slammer Finals is held in conjunction with the Connecticut Storytelling Festival. The event is sponsored by the Connecticut Storytelling Center. "This is amazing," said English Professor Raouf Mama. "This is the first time that two students from the same university have won first and second place." The contest requires that students craft a five-minute personal story and tell it in a spoken-word competition scored on creativity, relation to theme and delivery. No props, notes or instruments are allowed. The competition is timed, which helps train students to hone their words and delivery to avoid penalty points given for exceeding the time limit.

Craggett and Solomon had competed previously on Eastern's campus in a local contest and then moved forward to the state finals. Campus Slammer is the "Final Four" for wordsmiths. Both Craggett and Solomon are students in Mama's storytelling class. Chion Wolf, voice actress, producer and photographer for NPR Radio and host of "The MOUTH Story Slam" at the Mark Twain House, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Participating colleges included Eastern, the University of Connecticut, Manchester Community College, Connecticut College and Middlesex Community College. Above, left to right, are Wolf, Mama, Craggett and Solomon.

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Bahamian Students Visit Easterntag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68622014-05-20T18:27:06Z2014-05-20T18:27:57ZOn April 22, a group of 80 students and 20 representatives of the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) from Nassau, Bahamas, visited Eastern as part of the group's annual College Road Trip, which came to the Northeast this year. Candice Deal,...Office of University RelationsOn April 22, a group of 80 students and 20 representatives of the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) from Nassau, Bahamas, visited Eastern as part of the group's annual College Road Trip, which came to the Northeast this year.

Candice Deal, assistant professor of accounting and a native of the Bahamas, hosted the group. The 100 visitors heard presentations from the Center for Community Engagement and student clubs and organizations; met with international student representatives; took a tour of Eastern's campus; and were briefed on admissions policies. The campus visit culminated with a luncheon in the Paul E. Johnson Community Conference Room with Eastern students, faculty, and staff.

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Jail and Bailtag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68612014-05-20T18:24:42Z2014-05-20T18:26:53ZThe Third Annual Collaborative Jail 'N' Bail event, held on Webb Hall Lawn on April 29 to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut and Habitat for Humanity, had a great turnout and raised more than $5,000 for Windham Habitat and...Office of University RelationsThe Third Annual Collaborative Jail 'N' Bail event, held on Webb Hall Lawn on April 29 to raise money for Special Olympics Connecticut and Habitat for Humanity, had a great turnout and raised more than $5,000 for Windham Habitat and Special Olympics of Connecticut.

In the past two years, the event has raised more than $16,000 in cash and donations. "I would like to offer a huge thanks to our Facilities staff, without whom this event truly cannot happen," said Psychology Professor Peter Bachiochi, faculty advisor for Habitat for Humanity. "They helped with building/setting up our jail cell and tents, delivering tables, chairs, providing power, filling the dunk tank and much more. Thanks to Nick Messina for setting up the live feed that more than 750 people checked out. Thanks to Jason Coombs and Chartwells for providing hot dogs for everyone. Thanks to our judges who laid down the law. And thanks to all the other good sports throughout the day!" Police Officers Thomas Madera and David DeNunzio also were instrumental in organizing the event.

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Fun Mudder 2014tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68602014-05-20T18:22:42Z2014-05-20T18:24:33ZOn April 28, the normally tidy playground of Eastern's Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) was transformed into a muddy obstacle course for the "Fun Mudder" -- a preschool version of "Tough Mudder," a military-style mud run. The event...Office of University RelationsOn April 28, the normally tidy playground of Eastern's Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) was transformed into a muddy obstacle course for the "Fun Mudder" -- a preschool version of "Tough Mudder," a military-style mud run. The event hosted groups of children ages three to five who are enrolled in the CFDRC's preschool classroom. The two groups, each with approximately 25 children, were allowed one hour of play in the Fun Mudder course. "The goal was simply to complete the course; not to win or get a fast time," said Health and Education Professor Darren Robert. "We want the kids to try things they normally wouldn't; to get out of their comfort zone a bit."

Some of the mud-ridden obstacles included a crawl through wet leaves under a bridge; a walk through kiddie pools filled with ice water; a slip and slide into a puddle; a balance beam; and more. The children were chaperoned and cheered on by parents, students and staff, many of whom also participated in the muddy mess to encourage the toddlers. "This event was the culmination of the last few months of physical education work," said CFDRC Director Niloufar Rezai. "Today's obstacles required motor skills such as climbing, balancing, jumping and crawling."

Veteran and Eastern alumnus Brandon Strout '09, a physical education teacher at Windham Tech who helped out at the event, said, "The Fun Mudder is good because it shows the kids that fitness can be applicable to every day play. Plus, they don't often get to play in the mud."

The CFDRC would like to thank students of Windham Tech who built signs for the obstacles; all those who helped build and chaperone the course; and the late Nancy Tinker, whose work as director of the office of Facilities Management and Planning was instrumental in the construction of the CFDRC.

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Eastern Wins FIVE Little East Crowns This Seasontag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68592014-05-20T18:20:46Z2014-05-20T18:22:27ZEastern's softball team, which became the first program to win five straight Little East Conference regular-season crowns this season, has dominated the LEC all-conference first team with five selections, among them Pitcher-of-the-Year Erin Miller of Waterford. Miller, the program's fourth...Office of University RelationsEastern's softball team, which became the first program to win five straight Little East Conference regular-season crowns this season, has dominated the LEC all-conference first team with five selections, among them Pitcher-of-the-Year Erin Miller of Waterford.

Miller, the program's fourth Pitcher-of-the-Year in the past five seasons, was joined on the first team by first-team repeaters Mattie Brett (Waterford) and Sam Rossetti (Shelton) and first-time selections Stephanie Johnson (Plantsville) and Alyssa Hancock (Waterford). Brett is a senior centerfielder, Rossetti a junior first baseman, Johnson a senior corner outfielder and Hancock a sophomore shortstop.

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Eastern Announces 2014 Honorary Degree Recipient tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68392014-05-09T23:59:40Z2014-05-10T00:02:21Z Nicholas Lawson, director of field human resources for "Doctors without Borders/ "Médecins sans Frontières" (MSF), will receive an honorary degree from Eastern at its 124rd Commencement Exercises on May 13 at the XL Center in Hartford. Lawson began working...Ed Osborn

Nicholas Lawson, director of field human resources for "Doctors without Borders/ "Médecins sans Frontières" (MSF), will receive an honorary degree from Eastern at its 124rd Commencement Exercises on May 13 at the XL Center in Hartford. Lawson began working for MSF in 1997 as a logistical and administrative expert in a project in southern Sudan during that country's brutal civil war. Since then, he has held 11 other positions within the organization, which have taken him on humanitarian missions across the globe to Afghanistan, Burundi, East Timor, Pakistan, Kenya and elsewhere.

Last year in Uganda, Lawson coordinated MSF's response to the Kamango/Bundibugyo refugee crisis on the Uganda/Congo border. In 2011, he coordinated a similar mission to provide HIV-related hospital care to the population of the Chiradzulu district in Malawi. Over the years, Lawson has traveled to and coordinated humanitarian and medical relief efforts in a number of other countries in response to natural disasters, refugee situations, the AIDS pandemic and other health emergencies.

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Distinguished Guests Visit Eastern Connecticut State Universitytag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68402014-05-09T23:50:29Z2014-05-11T20:51:36ZMadeleine Albright Entertains Packed Crowd Madeline Albright, 64th Secretary of State of the United States, wove a fascinating combination of humorous anecdotes and historical insights during her lecture, "Economy and Security in the 21st Century," held in the Francis E....Ed OsbornMadeleine Albright Entertains Packed Crowd

Madeline Albright, 64th Secretary of State of the United States, wove a fascinating combination of humorous anecdotes and historical insights during her lecture, "Economy and Security in the 21st Century," held in the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium on March 28 to a crowd of 900 students, faculty and community residents.

Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1993-1997 before being named by President Bill Clinton as the first female Secretary of State and as the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government

From 1989-1992, she served as president of the Center for National Policy. Previously, she was a member of President Jimmy Carter's National Security Council and White House staff, and served as chief legislative assistant to Sen. Edmund S. Muskie.Albright is the author of five books and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

New York Times Best-Selling Author Talks Pop Culture

Author Chuck Klosterman wrapped up the 2013-14 Arts and Lecture Series on April 22 in the Student Center Theatre, where he discussed how pop culture shapes modern life in his lecture, "Live Through the Prism of Popular Culture."

Klosterman is the New York Times best-selling author of six books of nonfiction and essays, including "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" and "I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains," and two novels "Downtown Owl" and "The Visible Man," all of which focus on American popular culture. Klosterman currently covers sports and popular culture for ESPN and writes "The Ethicist" column for the New York Times Magazine.

He described how modern popular culture has become a filter through which we observe and validate the world around us. "The fictional frames today's reality, but we cannot evolve as organisms at the speed that technology has evolved in the past 100 years," Klosterman explained, which is why people are alienated by the very technology that dominates their lives.

High-Level Court Officials Discuss Criminal Justice System

Two high-level Connecticut court officials spoke at Eastern on Feb. 26 in the Student Center Theatre, Connecticut Chief Supreme Court Justice Chase T. Rogers and Superior Court Judge Maria Khan addressed the issue of justice and the presence of women in today's judicial system. Their presentation, sponsored by the Women's Center and Office of Equity and Diversity, was part of Eastern's University Hour Series.

Rogers said three women now serve on the Connecticut Supreme Court; Judge Alexandra DiPentima serves as the Chief Judge of the Intermediate Appellate Court; and 55 women serve as Superior Court judges. She said while progress has been made, "focus needs to stay on a much broader picture of addressing the overall issue of diversity, especially in the courts, which so often are called upon to resolve matters in a fair and neutral setting."

Judge Kahn spoke about access for people with limited English proficiency. Born and raised in Angola, Africa, she was appointed a Superior Court Judge in 2006, and currently is assigned to hear criminal matters in the Fairfield Judicial District Courthouse. She moved to the United States at 10 years of age, is fluent in three languages and admitted to several state and federal courts.

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Scholars on the Rise!tag:www.easternct.edu,2014:/mt-static/news//49.68432014-05-09T23:16:00Z2014-05-09T23:22:07ZEastern Students Present at National Conference Eastern communication students Kacey Rainone '14 of Stratford and Jordan Sakal '14 of East Hartford joined more than 4,000 other undergraduate scholars from across the country on April 3-5 for the 2014 National Conference...Ed OsbornEastern Students Present at National Conference

Eastern communication students Kacey Rainone '14 of Stratford and Jordan Sakal '14 of East Hartford joined more than 4,000 other undergraduate scholars from across the country on April 3-5 for the 2014 National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. The three-day event included student presentations from anthropology to zoology and everything in between, as well as career and graduate school workshops and networking events.

Rainone's paper, "Slut: The Deconstruction and Recoding of a Defamatory Term," explored the ways in which offensive labeling influences social interaction. Her rhetorical analysis included the history of the term as well as an examination of several contemporary controversies.

Sakal's paper, "The Effect of Social Media on Political Awareness," analyzed the role of mass media and digital media in the construction of citizens' political viewpoints. Terri Toles-Patkin, professor of communication, accompanied the students to the conference, with Eastern's Office of Undergraduate Research providing financial support.

Eastern Mathematicians Make DiscoveryTwo members of Eastern's Mathematics Department have made a discovery in the field of mathematics known as "number theory." Eastern Mathematics Professor Mizan Khan and Richard "Ricky" Magner, a junior from Beacon Falls, CT, majoring in mathematics, will have their discovery published in Volume 14 of the electronic journal INTEGERS.

The research, titled "Two Combinatorial Geometric Problems Involving Modular Hyperbolas," was a collaborative effort among four scholars, including Khan and Magner, as well as Steven Senger of the University of Delaware and Arne Winterhof of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. "The research concerned two problems, and Ricky answered one of them," said Khan. "Ricky's discovery is quite pretty; he is very clever."

"Questions in number theory are easy to state," said Magner, "but they are difficult to answer, and their implications are often unknown." Both Khan and Magner agree that the discovery alone has no practical application. "While the solution is elegant, this is a minor discovery," said Khan. "In this case, it is the process that is important, not the solution. My hope is that Ricky will build on this experience to prove bigger theorems in the future when he is in graduate school."

"Through solving problems you develop skill and build an 'arsenal,' which can lead to new discoveries and expand the field of mathematics," said Magner. "At the time, you may not know if the discovery is useful. It may be years before its use is realized."

Magner also recently received an Honorable Mention from the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The Goldwater Scholarship program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The program recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate the potential to make significant research contributions in their future careers.

Mama Publishes News Book; Named "Super Professor"English Professor Raouf Mama has published his long-awaited memoir, "Fortune's Favored Child," new from the Curbstone imprint of Northwestern University Press.

"Master Storyteller" Mama is widely known for his books and especially for his African and multicultural storytelling, which incorporates poetry, song, music, and dance. In Fortune's Favorite Child, Mama tells his own story, beginning in the West African country of Benin. Through a harrowing experience with sickness, an encounter with a clairvoyant traditional healer and astonishing twists of fortune, he struggles to uncover his real identity, to get an education, and to make his own way in the world. His journey takes him to the United States to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan and to begin a new chapter in his life.

"Fortune's Favored Child chronicles the nearly Dickensian journey of a master storyteller whose resilience, hope and abiding love of learning guide him along the way," said noted author Wally Lamb. "With its evocative use of local color detail, Mama's memoir transport¬ed this reader to faraway Africa even as it retold the classic coming-of-age story of a young seeker on a quest for wisdom and enlightenment."